In 2008 I was in a bad bike wreck. Beyond road rash, I broke a bunch ribs and my left collar bone. I also sustained a pretty severe head injury that resulted in nine brain bleeds (cerebral hemorrhages).
Among the many things that are affected by brain injuries, loss of memory is the most common. My short-term memory has suffered. But I’ve learned that I can remember things if I come at them in different ways.
For instance, when I forget someone’s name, if I can remember the name of someone related to them (i.e. a spouse, parent, friend), I am able to pull up the forgotten name.
Experts call this neuroplasticity.
In our brains are millions of pathways that the brain uses to accomplish what it needs. This would include things like movement, reaction, thought, memory, emotion, desire, and creativity. Basically, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to find a new ways of getting things done.
This is what happens with people whose brains were injured, but it can also happen in brains that aren’t working right. Brains that aren’t thinking right, that aren’t feeling right, that aren’t doing right. And this special ability for our brains to adapt and change was God’s idea.
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)
What you feed your thoughts is what you become. Put garbage in and garbage comes out. Put good things and good things will result. This is why God’s word tells us,
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
What’s so exciting is that we can change our thinking and thereby change our lives,
… be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
(Romans 12:2)
Here are some things to feed your thoughts that will transform your life,
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
This isn’t just a change in thinking; it’s a change in living. It’s a change in habits, desires, actions, etc. What you used to do no longer has to define or limit you. You can do things that you never thought possible if you can think differently. If you can come at them from the direction of God’s word. It’s like spiritual-neuroplasticity.
Now if I could just find my keys.
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